New Radar System Installed at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport

A radar system has been put in place at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport in the Washington, D.C. area after a tragic mid-air collision in 2025 claimed the lives of 67 individuals due to several system failures.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy revealed on Friday that the airport has been equipped with a surface mobile radar, referred to as SMR-4. This advanced technology assists air traffic controllers in tracking aircraft and vehicles on runways and taxiways, even during challenging weather and low visibility circumstances.

“This radar is a significant upgrade intended to enhance the tools available to air traffic controllers who manage our aviation safety,” Duffy mentioned. He went on to emphasize that the current administration is committed to delivering a top-tier air traffic control system that the nation rightfully deserves.

He noted that this new radar system would provide controllers “a much clearer picture” of what’s happening at the airport.

This installation marks Reagan Airport as the fifth airport to adopt this system, with Newark Liberty International Airport having received the technology just earlier this week.

The Department of Transportation has announced plans to invest $30.5 million in safety and technology enhancements at Reagan National Airport over the next three years.

The implementation of this upgrade follows a head-on crash between American Airlines Flight 5342, a regional jet operated by PSA Airlines, and a Black Hawk helicopter belonging to the military, which occurred over the Potomac River on January 29, 2025.

That tragic incident resulted in the deaths of all 64 individuals aboard the American Eagle plane, along with three on the helicopter.

The federal government took responsibility for the accident, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) citing systemic flaws in airspace design, safety oversight, and risk management by both the Federal Aviation Administration and the Army as contributors to the disaster.

NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted in a January 2026 report, “This detailed and complex year-long investigation has uncovered significant, enduring security weaknesses in the airways above our nation’s capital.” She added, “Sadly, the circumstances for this tragedy were established well before the events of January 29th.”